Alternative Therapies

Modern day medical practice is relatively new as compared to some of the alternative orthodox forms of medical treatments.



Some of these natural alternative therapies, like Ayurveda, have origins which can be traced back to over 5,000 years. Traditional Chinese medicine has been in practice for 4,000 years.

Despite such ancient roots and their ability to survive all these years with extremely positive results, many alternative therapies have not found acceptance by modern heath care practitioners and are rejected on the grounds that they do not have sufficient scientific reasoning and explanations backing them.



Truly enough, many therapies are based on folklore; however many are also based on logical principles, albeit ones which do not fit in with the theories of the modern system of medicine. However, despite many efforts to discredit traditional systems of medicine and healing, they have managed to survive and are slowly regaining their lost glory. This only proves their mettle in providing effective cures that are virtually free of major side effects.





Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine, yoga, naturopathy, homeopathy, and reflexology are some of the most popular and effective alternative therapies. They are age-old and have solid foundations on which they are modeled. A survey has revealed that 70-90% of the world’s population resorts to some or the other traditional health care systems, which have been prevalent in their cultures since ancient times.
 
The most common reason why people turn to these therapies is the fear of the side-effects of conventional medicine and its short term curative nature. Many of the conventional drugs are generally suppressive in nature and do not cure the disease at the root level. This causes recurrent health problems leading to lowered immunity and frustration.

Most of the natural alternative therapies are based on restoring bodily imbalances, like energy imbalance, dosha (bodily elements) imbalance, which they believe are the root causes of all diseases. So in order to treat any disease, they treat the very cause of the disease and restore the balance so that the disease does not re-occur.

Diseases such as cancer, aids, liver and kidney dysfunctions, digestive disorders, insomnia, obesity, ailments pertaining to the heart and brain, all find a cure in one or the other of the alternative therapies for these diseases. This does not imply that these therapies are always and under all conditions effective, but that is the case with even modern medicine. No systems of healing have a hundred percent cure rate since diseases are caused by many factors, some within our control and some beyond.

Although we might not understand many of the principles behind these alternative therapies, the fact that they have survived the test of time only makes their case stronger.